• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.17-23
• /
• 2009

The gene encoding Thermus thermophilus HJ6 DNA polymerase (Tod) was cloned and sequenced. The open reading frame (ORF) of the Tod gene was composed of 2,505 nucleotides and encoded a protein (843 amino acids) with a predicted molecular weight of 93,795 Da. The deduced amino acid sequence of Tod showed 98% and 86% identities to the Thermus thermophilus HB8 DNA pol and Thermus aquaticus DNA pol, respectively, The Tod gene was expressed under the control of the bacteriophage $\lambda$ promoters PR and PL on the expression vector pJLA503 in Escherichia coli strain BL21 (DE3) codon plus. The expressed enzyme was purified by heat treatment, $HiTrap^{TM}$ Q column, and $HiPrep^{TM}$ Sephacryl S-200 HR 26/60 column chromatographies. The optimal temperature and pH for DNA polymerase activity were found to be $75{\sim}80^{\circ}C$ and 9.0, respectively. The optimal concentrations of $Mg^{2+}$ and $Mn^{2+}$ were 2.5 mM and 1 mM, respectively. The enzyme activity was activated by divalent cations, and was inhibited by monovalent cations. The result of the PCR experiment with Tod DNA polymerase indicates that this enzyme might be useful in DNA amplification and PCR-based applications.

• Research in Plant Disease
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.79-87
• /
• 2020

Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fragariae (Fof) is the most important diseases of a strawberry field in Korea. We surveyed phylogenetic analysis, pathogenicity test, and fungicide response about Fof isolates isolated from Korea. Twenty-seven isolates of F. oxysporum isolated from strawberry plants were conducted in this study. Specific amplification by Fof specific primer was confirmed in all 26 isolates except Fo080701 isolate. The nuclear ribosomal intergenic spacer region and the translation elongation factor EF-lα gene sequences of isolates revealed three main lineages. Most of all isolates were contained DNA lineage group 1, but 2 and 3 group was shown only one and three isolates, respectively. All isolates were shown in pathogenicity with cv. Seolhyang. The EC₅₀ mean values of prochloraz ranged 0.02-0.1 ㎍/ml except for Fo080701 and effectively inhibited mycelial growth at low concentrations. The EC₅₀ value of metconazole was also 0.04-0.22 ㎍/ml, showing a similar inhibitory effect to that of prochloraz. The EC₅₀ value of pyraclostrobin was 0.23-168.01 ㎍/ml, which was different according to the strain. In the field trial, boscalid+fludioxonil, fluxapyroxad+pyraclostrobin, and prochloraz manganese were selected as the effective fungicides for controlling Fusarium wilt.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.390-394
• /
• 2004

The genetically modified glyphosate-tolerant soybean contains the following introduced DNA sequences: the EPSPS (5-enol-pyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase) gene from Agrobacterium sp. strain CP4, the 35S promoter from the cauliflower mosaic virus, and the NOS terminator from Agrobacterium tumefaciens. In the present study, detection of these introduced DNAs was performed by amplification using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A multiplex PCR method was also applied to prevent false positive results. When primers for 35S promoter, nos3', CTP(chloroplast transit peptide), and CP4 EPSPS (EPSPS from Agrobacterium sp. CP4) were used, positive results were obtained in PCR reactions using DNA from genetically modified glyphosate-tolerant soybeans. There were no false positive results when using DNA from non-genetically modified soybeans. The CP4 EPSPS gene was detected when less than 125 pg glyphosate-tolerant soybean DNA was amplified. Lectin Lel and psb A were amplified from both non-genetically modified and genetically modified glyphosate-tolerant soybean DNA. Multiplex PCR was performed using different primer sets for actin Sacl, 35S promoter and CP4 EPSPS. The actin gene was detectable in both non-genetically modified and glyphosate-tolerant soybeans as a constant endogenous gene. Target DNAs for the 35S promoter, and CP4 EPSPS were detected in samples containing 0.01-0.1% glyphosate-tolerant soybean, although there were variations depending on primers by multiplex PCR. Soybean seeds from five plants of non-genetically modified soybean were co-cultivated for six months with those of genetically modified soybean, and they were analyzed by PCR. As a result, they were not positive for 35S promoter, nos3' or CP4 EPSPS. Therefore, these results suggest there was no natural crossing of genes between glyphosate-tolerant and non-genetically modified soybean during co-cultivation, which indicates that gene transfer between these plants is unlikely to occur in nature.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.21 no.11
• /
• pp.1619-1624
• /
• 2011

Endophytic fungal strains were isolated from the roots of six species plants in the Dokdo islands. Native plant samples, such as Artemisia japonica, Chenopodium album and Solanum nigrum were isolated from Dongdo, and those such as Cyrtomium falcatum, Dianthus longicalyx and Tetragonia tetragonoides were isolated from Seodo. In total, thirty two fungal strains were isolated from these native plants. To identify the fungal strains, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of internal transcribed spacer (ITS: containing ITS1, 5.8s and ITS2 region) regions was done with universal primers ITS1 and ITS4. Endophytic fungi of four species were isolated from A. japonica, eight species from C. album, three species from S. nigrum, three species from C. falcatum, three species from D. longicalyx and eleven species from T. tetragonoides. Culture filtrates (CF) of isolated endophytic fungi were used to treatwaito-c rice seedlings to test plant growth-promoting activity. As a result of bioassay, Ca-5-2-2 strain isolated from C. album expressed highest plant growth-promotion activity. Of all the endophytic fungi isolated, Penicillium sp., Fusarium sp. and Aspergillus sp. were the most abundantly distributed fungal strains in the six plants used in this study.

• Journal of Aquaculture
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.166-172
• /
• 2006

Induced androgenesis, a form of artificial parthenogenesis is an important tool for the generation and use of genetically isogenic or clonal fish strain. An optimized protocol for the genetic inactivation of mud loach (Misgurnus mizolepis) oocytes (i.e. production of androgenetic haploid) was developed using UV-irradiation. Various dose levels of UV significantly affected the fertilizing capacity of the eggs, hatchability of embryos and incidence of haploidy. Based on the extensive examinations of treatment conditions on embryo viability and haploid incidence, the optimum dose level of UV irradiation was turned out to be $10,800ergs/mm^2$ with 56.9% of hatching success and 94.6% of haploidy. The overall yield of putative androgen under optimized treatment condition was more than 50% out of total eggs inseminated. The success of androgenetic reproduction of haploid genome was verified by flow cytometry and PCR amplification of transgene that is exclusive to either one of parental sexes. However, a small portion $(8\sim11%)$ of presumed androgenetic haploid larvae was proven to contain residual DNA fragment(s) from maternal parent.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.62-65
• /
• 2010

Arowana (Scleropages formosus) is the most valuable group of ornamental fishes and very much in demand in the ornamental fish trade and commands high price ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars per fish. In this paper, we described a case of mortality of arowana from a private aquarium in Korea. A bacterial pathogen from fish organs (brain, kidney, liver) was cultured, identified and confirmed using Vitek System 2, API 20E test, multiplex PCR and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The morphological and biochemical properties of the bacterium isolated from the brain, kidney and liver of the fish were similar to Aeromonas sobria. Positive amplification products using the multiplex PCR assay for detection of A. sobria were obtained from these organs. The 16S rRNA gene of the isolates from fish was identical and exhibited 100% sequence similarity with A. sobria (AY987762.1) strain available from GenBank. This bacterium contained hemolysin gene, a virulence factor that plays an important role in outbreaks of disease and is pathogenic to humans as well as in fish. Although this opportunistic bacterium was isolated from a fish without any external symptoms, this pathogen may act as a reservoir and enhance chances of zoonosis to human such as during handling.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.845-858
• /
• 1996

The purpose of this study was to establish early diagnostic methods for the detection of Aujeszky's disease viral antigens and nucleic acid in nasal cells, and buffy coats from experimentally infected living pigs by a combination of immunocytochemistry, in situ hybridization with digoxigenin(DIG)-labled probe and electron microscopy. Forty days old piglets were inoculated intranasally with $10^{7.0}TCID_{50}$ of Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV, NYJ-1-87 strain). The viral antigens and nucleic acid of ADV were detected in nasal cells, and buffy coat for 20 days after inoculation by immunocytochemistry, in situ hybridization with DIG-labeled probe and electron microscopical method. The results were compared with conventional methods such as a porcine Aujeszky's disease serodiagnostic(PAD) kit, neutralization test(NT) and virus isolation. 1. The viral antigens, nucleic acids and capsids of ADV were detected in nasal cells, buffy coats from 3 days to 20 days after inoculation by immunocytochemistry, in situ hybridization with DIG-labeled probe and electron microscopy, respectively. 2. When viral antigens were detected by the immunocytochemical technique, a diffuse brown deposit was observed in the nucleus and cytoplasm of nasal cells, buffy coats and PK-15 cells under a microscope. 3. DIG-labeled DNA probe was prepared by amplification of conserved sequence of recombinant ADV-gp50 clone with polymerase chain reacction. When ADV-DNA was detected by ISH with DIG-labeled probe, purplish blue pigmentation were observed in the nuclei and cytoplasms of ADV-infected cells under a microscope. Positive signals were observed in nasal cells and in the buffy coat and PK-15 cells at the first day after inoculation. 4. Where ADV-capsids were detected by transmission electron microscopical method, aggregation of capsids was observed in the nuclei and cytoplasms of nasal cells, buffy coats and PK-15 cells. The results suggested that these methods were considered as the highly sensitive and reliable tools for rapid and confirmative diagnosis of Aujeszky's disease in living pigs.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
• /
• v.48 no.4
• /
• pp.389-396
• /
• 2020

Lentinula edodes is one of the most widely consumed edible mushrooms in Korea. Mating in L. edodes is regulated by a tetrapolar system, and two unlinked genetic loci, A and B, are known to be major determinants of the mating types, as reported in other heterothallic basidiomycetes. The A locus of L. edodes encodes a pair of homeodomain (HD) transcription factors. The highly variable N-termini of these HD transcription factors contribute to the diversity among the A mating types. In this study, we developed a cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) marker to discriminate 11 different A mating type alleles predominant among both cultivated and wild strains. Amplification of the variable region of the A locus followed by digestion with HaeIII and EcoRI restriction enzymes enabled successful discrimination among the 11 A mating type alleles. We also evaluated the applicability of this method in the identification of two A mating types of a dikaryotic strain.

• Journal of Naturopathy
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.27-38
• /
• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether intestinal proliferation is promoted in beneficial intestinal bacteria or decreased in harmful bacteria before and after ingesting Bacillus fermentation broth (ENM) for 8 weeks in the 16 subjects. Method: Intestinal bacteria were identified by PCR amplification using specific 16S rRNA primers. Results: The Bifidobacterium gene index(%)(gi%) increased to 58.92% in the control group and 69.53% in the test group after the ingestion of ENM, but there was no significant difference. Lactobacillus gi% increased significantly (49.37% in the control and 66.43% in the test) (p<.029). Clostridium gi% was significantly decreased after treatment (83.16% in the control and 67.76% in the test) (p<.077). Bacteroides gi% increased significantly (12.58% in the control and 20.87% in the test) after ingesting (p<.095). Prevotella gi% increased significantly (7.55% in the control and 17.28% in the test) after ingesting (p<.005). After ingesting, the median bacteria increased significantly in the control (20.06%) and the test (35.88%) (p<.001). Conclusions: After ingestion of the ENM, the number of beneficial bacteria increased and the number of harmful bacteria Clostridium tended to decrease. This suggests that ingestion of the Bacillus fermented beverage ENM has an effect on the proliferation of intestinal bacteria.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.243-249
• /
• 2007

The centromere is a highly differentiated structure of the chromosome that fulfills a multitude of essential mitotic and meiotic functions. Alphoid DNA (${\alpha}$-satellite) is the most abundant family of repeated DNA found at the centromere of all human chromosomes, and chromosomes of primates in general. The most important parts in the development of Human Artificial Chromosomes (HACs), are the isolation and maintenance of stability of centromeric region. For isolation of this region, we could use the targeting hook with alphoid DNA repeat and cloned by Transformation-Associated Recombination (TAR) cloning technique in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The method includes rolling-circle amplification (RCA) of repeats in vitro to 5 kb-length and elongation of the RCA products by homologous recombination in yeast. Four types of $35\;kb{\sim}50\;kb$ of centromeric DNA repeat arrays (2, 4, 5, 6 mer) are used to examine the stability of repeats in homologous recombination mutant strains (rad51, rad52, and rad54). Following the transformation into wild type, rad51 and rad54 mutant strains, there were frequent changes in inserted size. A rad52 mutant strain showed extremely low transformation frequency, but increased stability of centromeric DNA repeat arrays at least 3 times higher than other strains. Based on these results, the incidence of large mutations could be reduced using a rad52 mutant strain in maintenance of centromeric DNA repeat arrays. This genetic method may use more general application in the maintenance of tandem repeats in construction of HAC.